The Cardinals assigned DeJong with the Memphis Redbirds of the Class AAAPacific Coast League (PCL) to begin the 2017 season. In 46 games, he was batting .294 with 11 home runs and 31 RBI, and had played 37 games at shortstop, four at second base and three at third base, prior to his first major league promotion. The Cardinals promoted DeJong to the major leagues on May 28, 2017, when they placed second baseman Kolten Wong on the disabled list (DL). [23]

DeJong made his major league debut on May 28, 2017, at Coors Field versus the Colorado Rockies. He faced Greg Holland in his first at bat, and hit a home run on his first swing, becoming the ninth Cardinals player to homer in his first at bat in the major leagues. [24] On July 8 versus the New York Mets, he set both a Cardinals shortstop and a number eight hitter record with four extra base hits in one game, including three doubles and one home run. [25] The next day, DeJong set a rookie record for extra-base hits in a three-game series with seven. [26] After batting .298/.347/.638 (.985 OPS) with eight home runs and 16 RBI in the month of July, DeJong was named the National League (NL) Rookie of the Month. He was the first Cardinals' player to win the award since Wong in May 2014. [27]

On August 19, DeJong hit his 20th home run, versus Juan Nicasio, becoming just the fourth Cardinals rookie to do so, in a 6−4 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. [28] DeJong finished his 2017 rookie campaign with a .285 batting average, 25 home runs, and 65 RBI, leading NL shortstops in home runs. [29] Only Albert Pujols had hit more home runs as a rookie in club history, doing so in 2001. DeJong's combined output between Memphis and St. Louis in 2017 included 38 home runs. [11] He placed second in the 2017 NL Rookie of the Year balloting to Cody Bellinger, who won unanimously. [11]

DeJong signed a six-year contract extension finalized on March 5, 2018, worth a guaranteed total of $26 million, through the 2023 season. The deal also includes two option years and a total possible value of $51.5 million, confirmed a source. The deal is one of the largest ever given to a player who has not had a full year of service. [11]

Outside baseball

After the 2017 season, DeJong participated in a scientific study as laboratory assistant with Dr. Lawrence Rocks exploring the effects of differing temperatures on the flight of the path of the baseball. [29] DeJong and Dr. Rocks also appeared together on MLB Now at the 2017 winter meetings. [11][11]

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